Harin and Manusha file FR against SJB

Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara 

Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara yesterday filed a Fundamental Rights petition against the Samagi Jana balawegaya (SJB). 

The duo are seeking an order to invalidate the decision made by the party, which stripped them of their party membership and their positions as Members of Parliament.

The petition names SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and several others as respondents.

On 18 July the SJB announced that the party’s working committee unanimously decided to expel MPs Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara for going against the SJB’s decision to refuse any Government posts offered. 

Though the party had long sought to take action against them, the SJB was prevented from doing so after an enjoining order was issued by the Nugegoda District Court in early April against SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and the Chairman of the purported party disciplinary committee. However, the enjoining order issued by the courts lapsed on 18 April.

The party then took steps to expel them in July following deliberations.  

Meanwhile, on 2 August the United National Party (UNP) welcomed Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara back to its fold after their expulsion from the SJB. 

The UNP lifted the suspension on the two Ministers at a working committee meeting chaired by UNP leader, President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The party also took an additional step and reinstated both Ministers as active members of the working committee, granting them the opportunity to resume their roles and responsibilities within the party.

The duo along with 97 other UNP MPs has been suspended earlier by the UNP in May 2020, after they broke away from the UNP to form the SJB.